Revolving door



p 1950 F. c. WHITEFORD 2,523,980

REVOLVING DOOR Filed March 23, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet 1 f 00 E P .22 24 1:, i

l 0 92 35 ii i 3 82 I 66 5 5i 1 :E 5 l E Frederick Carter White ford INVEN TOR.

Wi /m, 23

Attorney:

Sept. 26, 1950 v c. 1 6RD 2,523,980

REVOLVING DOOR Filed March 23, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2.

52 H h I 122 11mm 8 9o 9a //o 9 lip I 6 Fig. 7.

| I n I II Frederick Car/er Whi/eford INVEN TOR.

F. C. WHITEFORD Sept, 26, 1950 REVOLVING DOOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 23, 1948 II HUI Frederick Carter Whifeford INVENTOR. @405. WW

:5 L, Atlurne Sept. 26, 1950 a F. c. WHITEFORD 2,523,980

REVOLVING DOOR Filed March 23, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 f Frederick ziarlerwhitefam' 52 INVENTOR.

Sept. 26, 1950 F. c WHITEFORD REVOLVING DOOR Filed March 25, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 mm M .MN A x a a m W1 3 r M P- 11 m I K I u U M .Y -ILI N. B m (H w M F Patented Sept. 26, 1950 Frederick Carter Whiteford, Van Nuys, Calif. Application March 23, 1948, Serial No. 16,505

- Claims. '1

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a revolving door and more specifically pertains to a revolving door and door casing which is collapsible in response to abnormal pressures such as created by a panic in a crowd of people passingtherethrough; whereby the wings of the door areautomatic'ally folded, and additional openings are automaticallyapjrovided in the door casing to permit rapid egress of the panicked people.

The principal object of this invention is to prorality of wings extending radially from the axis 7 of rotation of the door, accompanied by means for yieldingly holding the wings in assembled position to form a revolving door.

A further important feature of the invention resides in the provision of yieldable means for retaining the wings of the door in assembled position, which-yieldable means will be automatically overcome by the imparting of an abnormal, predetermined force upon the wings of the door, to thereby fold the wings into a collapsed position occupying a minimum volume of space, and thus provide a maximum area of passageway through the door casing. p

A still further feature of the invention com- .prehends the provision of a collapsible door as set forth in the preceding paragraphs, wherein a counterweight latch mechanism is provided for yieldingly holding the wings of the door in assembled position, and wherein a counterweight latching system is provided for retaining emergency doors in the door casing in their closed position.

I assembly and the door casing in their assembled position;

Figure 3 Ba fragmentary Vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane of the section line of Figure 4, and illustrating certain po sit'ions of the parts when the door is inits collapsed position; 1

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the assembly,

similar to Figure "2 but showing the emergency 10 doors of the casing, and the position of the door latches and counterweights when the door is in its collapsed position;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary rear perspective view looking through the door-casing and showing the parts in their collapsed position;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view through the door easing below the plate 52 looking downwardly and showing the vanes of the revolving door in their collapsed position and the emergency doors of the casing open;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane of the section line 'll of Figure 2 and showing the door vane latching means and their counterweight mechanism, the vanes and latching mechanisms being indicatedin the assembled position;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure '7 but taken substantially" upon the plane of the section line 3-8 of Figure 4, and-showing the parts in position for releasingthe latching means for maintaining the vanes in their assembled position;

And a final important feature of the invention to be specifically enumerated herein resides in the provision of a collapsible revolving door as set forth in the preceding paragraphs, wherein the entire weight of the revolving door assembly is supported by an overhead track carried by the come apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by, this device, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings;

wherein Figure 1 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken substantially'upon the plane of the section line I-l of Figure 2, certain parts being broken away to show their construction in section and certain parts being shown in elevation; V

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the revolving door Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane of the "section line {I -=9 of Figure 2, and showing in full lines the"counterbalanced latching means for maintaining the emergency'doors closed, and in dotted'lines the position of the parts when the emergency doors are opened;

Figure 10 is'a vertical transverse sectional deof the section line l I-I-l of Figure 10.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, attention is directed first to Figures 1 and 2, and also to Figures 4 and 6. In these figures, the

numeral l0 designates a door casing formed by a cylindrical wall, which is provided with the customary service openings l2 and I l, see Figure 6. As will be readily understood, these openings provide the normal inlet and outlet means for persons entering or leaving a building or structure provided with-the revolving door forming the subject'of this invention. The casing wall l0 abutting the outlet opening I 4 of the door casing is provided with hinged emergency door sections 15. which, in their closed position as indi-' cated in dotted lines in Figure 6,,iorm a, conis tinuation of the casing wall, but in their open position, indicated in full lines in Figure 6, in-

crease the area of the outlet opening for a pur- The post It constitutes the vertical axis about which the collapsible door, to be set forth hereinafter, is rotated, this door construction being supported upon the top of the door casing it As indicated best in Figures 1 and 10, an annular plate 22 is supported upon the upper surface of the door casing Ill to constitute a trackway, for supporting the outer edges of the vanes of the rotary door, this plate having a peripheral 1 upwardly extending flange 24 constituting a trackway for a purpose to be later set forth.

A plurality of door panels or vanes 26, 28, 3B and 32, four being chosen for purposes of illustrating the principles of the invention, although it will be understood that any suitable number may be employed as desired, are hinged at their upper and lower ends to the post 18 for individual and collective revolvable movement thereabout as set forth hereinafter. These door panels or vanes may be of any desired construction, except that at their upper and lower ends they are each provided with hinged plates 34 and 36, respectively, which are journaled upon the axle 18 in side by side relation. Conveniently, the upper edge and the upper side edges of the door panels are pro vided with a generally U-shaped metallic end plate- 38 having its top portion bifurcated or channeled, as at it, for receiving therein the upper hinged plate 3 3, and having its inner leg 62 positioned to form a journal bearing for rotatably supporting the door upon the post 18.

Adjacent its outer edge, each of the end plates 3% is provided with outer and inner upwardly extending parallel flanges and pins 44 and 26, respectively, the outer flange, as shown in Figure 1, being provided with laterally extending axles 38 upon which are journaledrollers 50 which ride upon the tracks 22 and support thereon the oute edges of the door panels.

An annular supporting cover 52, as shown best in Figure 1, overlies the top edges of the door panels or vanes, and extendswithin the pins 46 of the end plate 38, this supporting cover 52 being mounted by means of integral or rigidly attached U-shaped channel-members 54; extending radially therefrom and provided with offset terminal portions 56 of similar construction, which overhang the casing l0. As shown in the detail view of Figure l0, these offset terminal portions '56 have journaled in their outer downturned end walls 58, and depending lugs 6 in the interior of the annular portions, a supporting axle 62, upon which is mounted a flanged supporting wheel 64 riding upon the upper edge of the track 24. By this means, the annular cover 52 is rotatably mounted upon the track on the top of the 4 laterally disposed axles 16 carrying flanged sup porting rollers 18 which rest upon the above mentioned flange T0, the latter constituting an annular supporting track for the inner ends of the door panels or vanes.

It will thus be seen that the rotating cover 52 is rotatably mounted and supported upon the outer annular track member 24, while the door vanes are rotatably supported at their outer end by the rollers 58 resting upon the annular track 22, and at their inner ends by the rollers '18 riding upon the track 18 on the inner periphery of the rotatable top 52.

It should be he'r'e noted that the door hinges 34 are provided with longitudinal slots 80, see Figure 6, to which the doors ar slidably connected as by bolts 82 extending thru the'bifurcated portion of the end plate 38, and riding in these slots. The'hinges 36 at the bottom of the panels are similarly constructed. By means oith'is slotted connection, the door panels may either be assembled radially of the door post [8,

as shown in dotted lines in Figure 6, in which position the bolts 82 ar at the innermost ends of the slots 83, or alternatively may be disposed in parallel relation as indicated in full lines in Figure 6, the slots accommodating this movement.

A latching means is provided for retaining the door panels in their assembled and radial position with respect to the axle of rotation, Hi, This means comprises a plurality of latches 84, each having an offset terminal portion 8'! pivoted as at 85 to the upper surface of the rotatable plate '52, this terminal portion 87 having an arcuate slot 88 in the outer end thereof, whereby the same may be selectively engaged with the upstanding pin d6 previously mentioned and carried by the outer end of the door panel end plate 38. Thus, when the latch 84 is ina, radial position with the notch 83 engaging the pin 46, the door panel is secured to the rotatable cover in a radial position for rotation therewith. Obviously, to release the door panel and permit the same to be folded, it is merely necessary to oscillate the latch 84 about its pivot 86, thereby disengaging the notch 88 from the pin 46.

Atits other end, th latch 84 is provided with a locking tongue 90 whereby the latch may be retained in its locking position.

Upon the radius extending to each of the pivot pins 86, there are secured pairs of L-shaped supporting brackets 92 and 94, the latter having radially inwardly extending parallel lugs 96. Fulc'rumed between these lugs 96, as by a pin 98, are latch fingers illii terminating at their inner nds in latching tongues 12 which are engageable in the above mentioned bifurcations "M in the bracket '12, while the outer ends of the latches I00 extend through aligned slots I04 and I08 in the brackets 92 and 94, respectively, see Figure 1, and terminate in finger portions I 08 which overlie and bear downwardly upon th above mentioned fingers 90 on the latches 84, which likewise extend through the slots I64. Journaled between the brackets 92 and 94, upon axles H0 and H2, see Figures 7 and 8, are a pair of bellcrank levers I Hi and I I6, having suitable counterweights H8 secured to the end of one arm, while the end of the other arm constitutes an abutment engaging opposite sides of the overlying tongue portions 95 and N38.

The arrangement is such that when the four door panels are in their radial positions, the

the weighted bellcrank levers I M, as shown in Figure '7. In this position, the radial vane door assembly is now free to rotate about the axle I8, this rotation being assisted and facilitated by the supporting rollers 50 and 64, as well as by the rollers 78. When the door is rotated by normal pressure or force-supplied to the door panels or vanes, this force will be resisted by thecounterweights H8, through the leverage imparted by the bellcrank I I6 and the mechanical advantages of the latch levers, and the assembly may be considered as rigid. However, when a more than normal force is applied tov the door panels,.as when a crowd under panicky conditions presses against one or more of the door panels, the counterweight linkage and latches which are adjusted for this purpose yield and permit the latches to be displaced about their pivots, whereby the door panels will fold or collapse into their collapsed position as shown in Figure 6.

However, since the collapsed door panels still occupy a considerable part of the cross sectional area of the doorway through the casing iii, a

panic striken crowd of people passing through the door opening will apply an inordinate force against the emergency door 16, thereby causing the latter to swing open against the predetermined resistance of the door closing bellcrank I 20, fulcrumed as at I22 to, supporting brackets 12d upon the upper portion of the door casing l0, see Figure 9, the outer end of the bellcrank being provided with suitable weights I26.

vidually and adjustably supporting each panel from said plate and easing, respectively, hinge means for .individually journaling each panel upon a door axle, inner and outer latch means for selectively securing the inner and outer support means to said plate radially of the axis of rotation of the door and retaining means engageable with said latches for securing the latter in latching position and yieldable to release said latches in response to the exertion of a prede-- termined force upon said door panels, said support plate having supporting arms extending outwardly therefrom, said bearing means comprising rollers journaled at the outer extremities of the arms.

3. A foldable revolving door comprising a support plate, bearing means rotatably supporting said plate upon a door casing, a plurality of door panels, inner and outer support means for individually and adjustably supporting each panel from said plate and casing, respectively, hinge means for individually journaling each panel upon a door axle, inner and outer latch means for selectively securing the inner and outer support means to said plate radially of the axis of rotation of the door and retaining means engageable with said latches for securing the latter in latching position and yieldable to release said latches in response to the exertion of a predetermined force upon said door panels, said outer support means including a plate carried by each panel, said platehaving a. bearing for rotatable v engagement with a door casing.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device, together with itsadvantages, will now be evident, and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary.

However, it will be evident that numerous changesmay be made within the principles of the invention after a considerationof the attached specification and the accompanying drawings, and accordingly it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what claimed as new is:

1. A foldable revolving door comprising a support plate, bearing means rotatably supporting said plate upon a door casing, a plurality of door panels, inner and outer support means for individually and adjustably supporting each panel from said plate and casing, respectively, hinge means for individually journaling each panel determined force upon said door panels.

2. A foldable revolving door comprising a support plate, bearing means rotatably supporting said plate upon a door casing, a plurality of door panels, inner and outer support means for indi- 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said plate has a latch finger, said outer latch means being selectively engageable with said finger.

'5. The combination of claim 4 whereinsaid retaining means includes a lever having a portion for abutting said latch, said lever yieldingly resisting movement of said latch when engaged therewith.

"6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said lever has a'counterweight for yieldingly resist ing movement of said latch when engaged there with.

7. The combination ofclaim 3 wherein said plate has an opening, a latch finger carriedby said hinge means and extending through said opening, anti-friction .means carried by said finger and rotatably resting on said plate.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said plate has an annular track thereon surrounding FREDERICK CARTER WHITEFORD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Number Name Date 656,062 Van Kannel Aug. 14, 1900 1,030,266 Ramondt June 18, 1912. 

